The liver is an important organ in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. It is
responsible for systemic energy homeostasis. When energy need exceeds the storage
capacity in the liver, fatty acids are shunted into nonoxidative sphingolipid biosynthesis,
which increases the level of cellular ceramides. Accumulation of ceramides alters substrate
utilization from glucose to lipids, activates triglyceride storage, and results in the
development of both insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis, increasing the likelihood of …